Inauguration of the Dubai LRT

The Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, inaugurated Phase I of the Dubai LRT (Al Sufouh) on Tuesday 11th November. It is world’s only LRT to be ground level powered along its entire length. The ceremony included a fireworks display over Dubai Marina attended by the local authorities as well as Pierre Verzat, Mahmoud Dow and Arnaud Valranges from SYSTRA.

The date for the event was carefully chosen - the 11th day of the 11th month of the year in which the first 11 trams ran between 11 stations. This 9.5km section runs alongside the coast in Dubai and the Marina district, a residential and shopping district near the man-made island of “Palm Jumeirah”.

After having produced a Master Plan and feasibility study between 2005 and 2007, SYSTRA went on to deliver preliminary engineering designs and tender documents before taking responsibility for project management and supervising construction work.

This LRT is part of Dubai’s Roads and Transit Authority’s (RTA) global scheme to increase the number of journeys carried out using public transport by 30% by 2030.

When (Phase 2 of) the line will be complete, it will stretch from the Mall of the Emirates along Al Sufouh Road to Dubai’s Marina Mall.
The tramway comprises seven stations at grade, four elevated and one depot. Running for 20 hours a day, from 5am to 1am, this LRT is designed to transport between 180 000 and 220 000 passengers per day living in or near the Al Sufouh district.